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Rescuers call off search for 7 on missing Panama City boat

In this undated photo provided by Maritime New Zealand, the yacht Nina is tied at dock at a unidentified location.

AP

By The Associated Press

Published: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 01:38 PM.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Rescue teams have abandoned a search for a U.S. schooner carrying seven people that disappeared in the South Pacific.

New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre said Friday it had carried out extensive aerial searches over the past 11 days but had found no sign of the vessel, the life raft or the crew.

The 70-foot sailboat Nina left New Zealand bound for Australia on May 29. The last communication was June 4, when a crew member sent an undelivered text saying the sails were shredded.

Authorities believe the 85-year-old classic wooden boat likely sank that day in a powerful storm.

The six Americans aboard included skipper David Dyche, 58, his wife Rosemary, 60, their son David, 17, and their friend Evi Nemeth, 73. Also aboard was a 35-year-old British man. The Dyches are formerly of Panama City.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Rescue teams have abandoned a search for a U.S. schooner carrying seven people that disappeared in the South Pacific.

New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre said Friday it had carried out extensive aerial searches over the past 11 days but had found no sign of the vessel, the life raft or the crew.

The 70-foot sailboat Nina left New Zealand bound for Australia on May 29. The last communication was June 4, when a crew member sent an undelivered text saying the sails were shredded.

Authorities believe the 85-year-old classic wooden boat likely sank that day in a powerful storm.

The six Americans aboard included skipper David Dyche, 58, his wife Rosemary, 60, their son David, 17, and their friend Evi Nemeth, 73. Also aboard was a 35-year-old British man. The Dyches are formerly of Panama City.

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